System and User Interface for Workflow & Task Schedule Configuration

1. A method of providing a pre-configured work flow executable procedure associated with a workflow step for operation with a software executable application associated with a workflow process including a plurality of workflow steps, comprising of: in response to user command, associating with an executable procedure of a work step, a predetermined set of parameters required to invoke functions of said executable procedure; exposing input parameters to be provided to said executable procedure by a workflow process as public parameters; exposing output parameters of said executable procedure to be returned to said workflow process incorporating said work step; providing a property of said executable procedure used to expose a predetermined set of user selectable public parameter attributes for use by a workflow process; creating an image element representing said executable procedure; including the created image element and its associated executable procedure in at least one library usable for customizing said workflow process; enabling a user to select parameters and add said executable procedure to said workflow process; and making an internal configuration of said executable procedure inaccessible to an end user of an application system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: providing said user configurable workflow work steps comprising decomposed functions of a clinical information system.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said workflow process is implemented using said software executable application and further comprising the steps of: enabling a user of said software executable application to add said executable procedure to said software executable application by dragging said created image element into a representation of said workflow process; and enabling said user of said software executable application to select said user selectable public parameter attributes.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: said image element is at least one of a graphical element and a text element.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: incorporating said executable procedure into a process definition; and deriving a value of a variable of the process definition using an expression processing one or more of said output parameters.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: said functions of said executable procedure comprise functions of said workflow process for performance by healthcare personnel.

7. A computer program embodied within a non-transitory computer-readable medium created using the steps of the method of claim 1 .

8. A system including at least one computer for providing a pre-configured work flow executable procedure associated with a workflow step for operation with a software executable application associated with a workflow process including a plurality of workflow steps, comprising: a workflow engine for in response to user command, associating with an executable procedure of a work step, a predetermined set of parameters required to invoke functions of said executable procedure; exposing input parameters to be provided to said executable procedure by a workflow process as public parameters; exposing output parameters of said executable procedure to be returned to said workflow process incorporating said work step; providing a property of said executable procedure used to expose a predetermined set of user selectable public parameter attributes for use by a workflow process; providing user configurable workflow work steps represented by image elements: creating an image element representing said executable procedure; including the created image element and its associated executable procedure in at least one library usable for customizing said workflow process; enabling a user to select parameters and add said executable procedure to said workflow process; and making an internal configuration of said executable procedure inaccessible to an end user of an application system.